Bengal govt asks jute mills to ensure optimal operation

West Bengal government has urged Union Textile minister Santosh Kumar Gangwar to look into the problems faced by mills due to raw jute crisis, even as it asked jute mills to ensure they do not close down.

State Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak urged Gangwar on the issue during a meeting, which continued till late evening on Thursday, and also asked to run properly and not close down, sources present at the meeting said.

Indian Jute Mills Association chairman Manish Poddar said, "Gangwar heard us and instructed the department to resolve the issues. Ghatak urged us to meet the procurement committments of the Centre."  Keeping mills running is important for the state to avoid unemployment and unrest ahead of the assembly poll. Till now, 12 jute mills have closed down and 70,000 workers have lost jobs and there is often news of unrest among the operating mills.

Mills are supposed to supply 5 lakh bales for packaging sacking to food department but they are contesting price cap for sacking and have urged the government to remove it as supply will not be possible with high raw material prices.